CHAPTER 287: CHAPTER 284: CRAFTSMEN OF THE GREAT TANG

This sleep was very deep, but after dawn, Lin Wanwan was still woken up by little Qingyu, so tired that she couldn’t even open her eyes.

Having kids, wanting to sleep in is really not easy, unless you go back to the modern time to take advantage of time differences.

The only servant in the house was Hong Yan, but that was enough. Most things Lin Wanwan could do herself, Hong Yan was mainly there to help mother and daughter with their hair.

The kitchen in this courtyard hadn’t started yet, after washing up, Lin Wanwan took little Qingyu onto a carriage to eat breakfast on the street.

People of the Tang Dynasty loved pastries, Hu cakes, steamed cakes, soup cakes, various types of cakes. Of course, if accurately speaking, only Hu cakes are what modern people understand as cakes, the rest are considered flour-based foods.

For example, steamed cakes are roughly like mantou or baozi steamed in baskets, while soup cakes are closer to knife-cut noodles or dough lumps.

Mother and daughter hadn’t been out for long before they were attracted by the fragrant sesame Hu cakes from a mobile street stall, from master to servant, each holding one.

Our poet-historian Bai Juyi could give a food introduction, "Hu sesame cakes like those in the Capital City, crispy with oil fragrance straight from the new oven. Have it sent to the hungry Yang Ambassador, taste to see if it’s like the Fu Xing ones?"

"Yang Ambassador" became a greedy cat because of Hu cakes, humorously depicting the deliciousness of Hu cakes.

On this point, Lin Wanwan felt the poet-historian was indeed worthy of the title; Hu cakes were truly delicious.

The poetry written by the poet-historian is realistic and down-to-earth, directly usable as a Tang Dynasty travel guide and historical strategy, unlike the exaggerations of the romantic Li Bai from the flourishing Tang Dynasty with verses like "The depth of Taohua Pond water is a thousand feet," "Is it suspected the Milky Way is falling into the nine heavens," "Five-flowered horse, thousand gold fur robe, call sons out for fine wine."

Mother and daughter sat inside the carriage eating Hu cakes, the curtain shielding them from the prying eyes outside, not having to care about their image, truly enjoyable, and as they ate, they arrived at the back door of the County Government.

Lin Wanwan swallowed the last bite of cake, cleaned little Qingyu’s sesame-covered mouth, then got off the carriage with her.

Xiao Chong had not yet risen today; his attendant said he was up late because he worked at his desk until late last night, but Lin Wanwan doubted the authenticity of this.

For some reason, she just felt Xiao Chong would be the type who loves to sleep in. Otherwise, he wouldn’t bring such a big group from his family to share his official duties.

He was only a County Magistrate of the Great Tang, with too many burdens on his shoulders, forced to be busy, otherwise likely to be someone who sleeps till noon, and then reads books, fishes, interferes with injustice leisurely, profoundly interpreting the new meaning of "a gentleman may seem idle but truly has a definite purpose."

Lin Wanwan and little Qingyu didn’t wait long in the main room, just as the Xiao Family’s cook brought the freshly stewed bird’s nest and white fungus porridge, Xiao Chong arrived looking refreshed.

Today, Xiao Chong was dressed in a half-old robe, as always unrestrained and without concern for clothing.

Unlike the oil-headed, powdered, gold-and-silver-wearing aristocratic dandies, he belonged to the true noble family that appeared noble without the need for attire embellishments.

After exchanging pleasantries, the guests and host sat down.

Initially, after eating Hu cakes, Lin Wanwan didn’t intend to eat again, but the bird’s nest porridge looked so delicious, she ate a bowl with them.

After breakfast, Lin Wanwan took her leave from Xiao Chong, as he was busy as a dog every day, certainly having no time to keep her.

Leaving the County Government, Lin Wanwan took little Qingyu to her newly bought shop to check on the renovation progress.

Because of the mess inside, Lin Wanwan feared little Qingyu might have an accident, so she kept holding her, the little one simply refused to wait in the carriage with Hong Yan.

The shop had several carpenters working, the rough outline was almost complete, and the furniture inside, Lin Wanwan extravagantly used Yellow Flower Pear Wood to craft.

These craftsmen weren’t casually picked by Lin Wanwan but selected through Xiao Chong. They mostly did public work, occasionally taking on private jobs.

The good craftsmen certainly handed over to the court nowadays, just like in ancient times with "learning literature and martial arts; selling it to the family of the emperor."

Some skillful people can’t go un-recruited; you must provide them with significant opportunities and a stage to rise, then exploit them for work; don’t let them idle, otherwise, the world likely gets stirred by them.

Like Huang Chao the failed scholar, Zhang Yuan the failed scholar, Hong Xiuquan the failed scholar, Yuan Shikai the failed scholar, etc., etc., if you don’t recruit them, they’ll have endless energy to cause trouble.

No matter the dynasty, the resources individuals and the government can mobilize are incomparable. Just like Li Shizhen’s own Compendium of Materia Medica, and the Yongle Encyclopedia compiled by all the big figures in the Ming Dynasty, the difference is vast.

One is error-prone, the other an encyclopedia.

Lin Wanwan looked at these Great Tang Dynasty craftsmen-made furniture without a single nail, all tenon and mortise structures, feeling pleased, modern craftsmen who can showcase this craftsmanship are truly few, most have become streamlined and industrialized.

After a thorough look, Lin Wanwan felt excited, praised several craftsmen, then energetically left. She wanted to call Sun Chuyao over to continue discussing the mansion’s décor with the craftsmen.

Taking time is not feared; anyway, she wasn’t living there; just using it for cover, the key was to use all the Yellow Flower Pear Wood placed there! Anyway, in the Tang Dynasty, she had plenty of chances to buy.

Recently, she also received some Agarwood and small-leaved red sandalwood, neither planned for use yet and kept in storage.

On the way smoothly towards Lin Family Manor, just out of the town, she unexpectedly encountered Lin Mengbo, Lin Mengjin, Lin Mengli, and five other cousins squeezed on a cow cart.

"Where are you heading, cousins?" Lin Wanwan pulled back the curtain and asked.

Lin Mengjin smiled and said, "Not going anywhere, yesterday it rained heavily, you didn’t return, Clan Leader feared an accident, let us come along the road to receive you."

Lin Wanwan felt touched by his words, smiled and said, "Thanks for your trouble! I haven’t had any accidents, stayed at the small stream town during the heavy rain. Next time going out, I’ll bring a White Falcon, so with any change, it can quickly deliver messages back."

"Okay, okay, okay."

Tang Dynasty communication mainly depended on shouting, slightly more upscale nobles would play with flying bird letter delivery.

For example, Li Shimin raised a White Falcon named "General," used it daily to exchange letters with his beloved son Li Tai, sending several every day.

Known for fatherly love and filial piety, unknown would think it’s romance!

Lin Wanwan hadn’t considered this before, today seeing Lin Mengbo and others reminded her.

This place was almost near small stream town, by time calculation, they had come out from Lin Family Manor early morning, their cart filled with fish spears and farm tools, clearly prepared for emergencies.

Being thought of this way, Lin Wanwan felt warmth in her heart. This is home; without returning, someone worries, puts aside work to seek her.